How AI in Legal Services is Transforming the Industry

Updated on

Reading Time: 5 minutes.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping to guide the future of every industry, in every sector, and legal services is no exception. If you’re an attorney, chances are that you’ve already begun to use AI as a legal support assistant. Monotonous tasks that once required human labor can now be automated by AI.

Lawyers and legal support professionals, like paralegals and private process servers, can use AI to increase their efficiency and productivity. AI in legal services can be an extremely helpful tool that provides innovative solutions and may transform the way the legal industry functions.

AI has the potential to enhance everything from legal research to service of process to skip tracing. Let’s take a look at how AI can be implemented in legal services, the benefits and drawbacks of using AI, and its key innovations that could shape the future of the legal services industry.

AI in legal service streamlining task management for legal professionals.

What do legal services include? 

Legal services include the professional advice, counsel, and representation of attorneys. However, the industry’s umbrella covers support services as well, including (but not limited to):

  • Court Filings: Efficient management of filing all necessary paperwork with the courts (both electronically and in person) before deadlines. Attorneys often rely on a legal services firm to handle all court filings. 
  • Document Retrieval: Case research often requires the retrieval of documents like public records and case files. 
  • Legal Research: Investigating case law, legal precedents, statutes, and other legal situations that can help to strengthen a case.
  • Process Serving: When an attorney partners with a private process server to deliver any subpoenas, summons, complaints, and other document deliveries.
  • Skip Tracing: Skip tracing is the use of legal tracking methods like public and private database research and tracking locations through social media accounts like Instagram or Facebook.

Nationwide industry leader Firefly Legal provides attorneys with legal services including court filing, process serving, skip tracing, and additional support services.

Types of AI used in legal services

Utilizing AI in legal services can automate mundane tasks, increase accuracy and productivity, and improve efficiency. Numerous types of AI can be used by attorneys and legal support professionals alike.

The types of AI used in legal services include:

  • Computer Vision AI:
  • Computer vision allows AI to “see” and conceptualize electronic data such as videos and images. This tool is ideal for document retrieval, document scanning, and text extraction.
  • E-Discovery Software: AI-powered e-discovery software is made specifically for the legal industry. This tool automates the process of analyzing, collecting, and reviewing electronic legal data, and can help legal professionals quickly find pertinent data. 
  • Generative AI: Chatbots such as ChatGPT or Claude, and AI virtual assistants can provide real-time support, answer clients’ questions, and schedule meetings.
  • Predictive Analytics: Predictive analytic tools use AI to review historical data and forecast future events. Attorneys might use this AI tool for work like case strategies, risk assessment, the calculation of damages, and settlement negotiations.
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA): RPA software is created to allow AI to automate repetitive tasks like contract review, document filing, and data entry.
AI in legal service offering predictive analytics to forecast case outcomes.

The benefits of AI in legal services

AI innovations are transforming legal services and offer numerous benefits for attorneys, process servers, and more. The benefits of AI in legal services include:

  • Data Driven Insights: Using AI for predictive analytics can help attorneys formulate case strategies and can help process servers to quickly locate intended recipients of legal documents.
  • Efficiency: AI automation can help provide real-time case updates, increase process server efficiency, and take care of routine, time-consuming tasks.
  • Improved Accuracy: AI reduces the chance of human error in document review and data entry.
  • Increased Customer Service: AI can answer client questions and provide real-time case information and status updates.
  • Reduced Costs: Automating tedious tasks can help you eliminate some human labor and avoid the need for human input in menial tasks, thereby reducing your overall costs.

The downsides of AI in legal services

Although AI in legal services can be extremely beneficial, it’s not a cure-all, and it does make mistakes. For example, in the widely reported 2022 case of Mata v Avianca, the plaintiff’s counsel used AI to cite cases in a filed “Affirmation of Opposition”…cases that did not exist, but that ChatGPT fabricated.

Generative AI should never be used as a sole source of information and although hallucinations are more rare than in 2022, chatbots do not always provide truthful answers.

Other downsides of AI in legal services include: 

  • Bias and discrimination
  • Cybersecurity concerns
  • Data privacy
  • Ethical questions about data protection and privacy rights
  • Job displacement for legal support professionals
  • Inability to build client relationships
  • Inability to understand nuance
  • Lack of existing AI regulations
  • Lack of human judgment and experience
  • Overdependence on AI
AI in legal service shaping the future with smarter legal research tools.

How AI will impact the future of legal services

As key AI innovations continue to evolve, AI’s transformative role in legal services will grow. The technology’s beneficial and detrimental impact will continue to affect everything from document review to document delivery to legal strategy.

Future trends in AI for lawyers 

Lawyers can expect to see more advanced and specialized AI tools integrated into everyday legal work. Some future trends in AI for lawyers might include:

  • AI Ethics Advisory Tools: AI-driven ethics programs that help lawyers navigate the ethical questions of implementing AI, and that can flag inherent AI bias and discrimination, are continuing to gain traction. 
  • AI-Driven Research: AI will continue to make strides in precise legal research, with AI tools specifically geared toward the legal services industry providing relevant case law more quickly. Hallucinations, while still a problem, will continue to decrease.
  • Smart Contracts: Self-executing smart contracts are becoming an increasingly popular option as they have contractual terms written directly into code. Smart contracts are stored on a blockchain and programmed for a variety of contractual needs that cut out the need for an intermediary.
  • Virtual Courtrooms: Virtual courtrooms have been on the rise since the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. AI can help facilitate seamless digital court appearances and efficient case management.

AI trends for process servers

The future of AI for process servers looks bright, too. Technology is already vital for successful document delivery, and AI tools can be utilized to increase the efficiency of a process server. Innovative approaches to future AI use include:

  • Automated Records and Filings: Real-time data entry and records of service attempts can allow a process server to spend more time on locating and serving an intended recipient, and filing successful service, rather than on detailed paperwork. 
  • Biometric Identity Verification: Verifying the identity of an individual being served with AI biometric tools can reduce the chance of misidentification and recipients’ claims of no service.
  • Enhanced Compliance: AI tools can help a process server to closely adhere to compliance requirements by flagging any service details that might fall outside of legal regulations.
  • Smart Skip Tracing: AI GPS tools can help a process server efficiently locate an intended recipient. AI software can quickly cross reference data bases to track a hard-to-find individual, too. 
  • Virtual Service of Process: In the future, virtual service of process might continue to remove the need for in person delivery. E-service already exists, but is considered a last option after unsuccessful delivery attempts. E-service is also subject to state and municipality regulations.

For attorneys, embracing AI’s role in legal services means greater accuracy, efficiency, and insight. However, full reliance on AI can and will lead to challenges. For legal support providers, AI enhances the ability to deliver faster, smarter, and more reliable service.

Firefly Legal is your nationwide premier legal services partner. Join our satisfied clients nationwide and partner with us to efficiently take care of your legal document delivery and additional legal support service needs.

Book a call with Firefly Legal today. 

Picture of Keith J. McMaster

Keith J. McMaster

Keith is the CEO and co-founder of Firefly Legal. He has grown Firefly from a startup to a major national player in the civil process service industry.

Share This:

Table of Contents

Enlighten your caseload.

Firefly takes pride in putting our clients first. We are dedicated to delivering results and becoming a valued partner to you and your company.

Client Testimonials

Share This:

You might be also interested in

enlighten-caseload

Enlighten your caseload.

Firefly takes pride in putting our clients first. We are dedicated to delivering results and becoming a valued partner to you and your company. See why Firefly has become one of the nation’s most trusted legal service providers today.

Privacy Policy

Firefly’s intention is to respect and protect the privacy of users of its website. Firefly wants you to understand its practices with regard to collecting and using your information both online and offline and the steps it takes to safeguard your privacy. This statement applies to Personally Identifiable Information collected from Firefly customers. When this Privacy Policy uses the term “Personally Identifiable Information” it refers to information that lets Firefly know the specifics of who you are and can be used to identify, contact or locate you. Personally Identifiable Information might include your name, mailing address, telephone number, mobile phone number, email address, and other identification and contact information. With this information, Firefly can fill your service requests and better provide you with personalized service.

“Non Personally Identifiable Information” refers to information that does not identify a specific individual by itself or in combination with other information. Firefly may gather certain information about you such as age, date of birth, gender, as well as purchasing information based upon what services you purchase at its website. This information may be compiled and analyzed on both an individual and an aggregated basis. This information may include the Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”) of the Website from which you just came, which URL you next go to, what browser you are using and your Internet Protocol (“IP”) address. A URL is the global address of documents and other resources on the Internet. An IP address is an identifier for a computer or device on a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (“TCP/IP”) network, such as the Internet. Networks use the TCP/IP protocol to route information based on the IP address of the destination. In other words, an IP address is a number that is automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are surfing the Internet, allowing Internet servers to locate and identify your computer. Computers require IP addresses in order for users to communicate on the Internet, browse and shop.

No information shoold be submitted to or posted on this website by anyone under age 13. Firefly does not provide any Personally Identifiable Information to any third party for any purpose whatsoever from any user of this website who is under age 13 and no such information will be used by Firefly for any purpose.

Firefly welcomes any and all questions and feedback. For privacy-related issues, please contact Firefly at:

Firefly Legal, Inc.
19150 South 88th Avenue
Mokena, Illinois 60448
Telephone No.: (877) 963-3534
Email: info@fireflylegal.com

  1. Information Firefly Collects
    1. Personally Identifiable Information
      Collection of Personally Identifiable Information may occur when you:
      • Inquire about Firefly services;
      • Create an account at Firefly’s website;
      • Participate in any marketing survey or other Firefly activity online or offline;
      • Correspond with Firefly; or
      • Otherwise volunteer information.
    2. Non-Personally Identifiable Information
      Firefly’s website may collect some non-personal information about you using special types of technologies, so it may not be readily apparent to you that it is being collected. Non-Personally Identifiable Information is not combined with Personally Identifiable Information.
  2. Use of Data Firefly Collects
    1. Personally Identifiable Information
      Firefly wants to provide you with the best service experience. In order to do this, Firefly may use your Personally Identifiable Information to allow it to:
      • Track and verify compliance with Firefly policies and applicable laws;
      • Provide the services you request;
      • Contact you about the status of a service request;
      • Customize our communications to you; and
      • Improve our customer service.

      Your email address will not be shared with any third parties. Instructions for unsubscribing from any newsletters or promotional emails are included in every email.

    2. Non-Personally Identifiable InformationFirefly uses the Non-Personally Identifiable Information that it collects from you and other visitors in a manner that does not personally identify any individual. Firefly uses Non-Personally Identifiable Information to make its website more interesting and usefol to you. Firefly also tracks the pages or documents accessed within its website. This information is collected for systems administration and for analyzing and improving the value of the material available on our website. This Non-Personally Identifiable Information is used to help its site design team.Cookies: Like many other commercial sites, Firefly’s website utilizes standard technologies called “cookies” to collect information about how its website is used. A cookie is a small data text file that a website stores on your computer’s hard drive (if your web browser permits) that can later be retrieved to identify you to Firefly. You can set your browser to not accept cookies, but that may interfere with your use of the website. Cookies are designed to help a website recognize a user’s browser as a previous visitor and thus save and remember any preferences that may have been set while the user was browsing the site. Cookies also allow Firefly to track user trends and patterns which can help Firefly improve areas of its website. A cookie cannot be read by a website other than the one that set the cookie. Cookies can securely store a customer’s password, personalize home pages, identify which parts of a site have been visited or keep track of selections made. A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive, pass on a computer virus or capture your email address. No Personally Identifiable Information is recorded.
  3. Information Firefly Shares with Others
    1. Firefly’s Contractors
      Firefly may contract with other companies to provide certain services to Firefly. In some instances, these contractors may have access to Personally Identifiable Information, but they are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality of the information and to use it only for purposes of carrying out the business of Firefly. These companies are prohibited by contract from using this information for their own marketing purposes or from sharing this information with anyone other than Firefly.
    2. Third Parties
      Your email address is never shared with any third party (except as described above to our contractors who use it ONLY to carry out Firefly business).
    3. Disclosure Exceptions
      Notwithstanding the above policies, Firefly reserves the right to disclose your personal information to appropriate third parties if required to do so by law or if Firefly believes that such action is necessary:
      • To comply with legal process such as a search warrant, subpoena or court order;
      • To protect Firefly’s rights and property;
      • To investigate reports of fraud or of users sending material using a false e-mail address or users sending harassing, threatening, or abusive messages;
      • To protect against misuse or unauthorized use of the website; or
      • During emergencies, such as when Firefly believes someone’s physical safety is at risk.

Your Choices

Firefly offers choices about the types of information you receive from Firefly. If you prefer not to receive communications from Firefly or if you prefer to receive them less frequently, please contact Firefly at the address shown above.

You may ask to review, revise, correct or update any of your personal information by contacting Firefly at the address above. You may also request changes in your email preferences, such as letting Firefly know that you do not wish to receive further email communications from Firefly or if you wish to have your personal information removed from its email mailing list. You may contact Firefly with regard to these matters at the address shown above.

Please be sure to provide your exact name and address so that Firefly can be sure to identify you correctly. Because mailings are planned in advance, it may take several weeks for your request to become effective. If, due to human error, you continue to receive unwanted communications, please contact Firefly again and it will make every effort to correct the situation.

Email Use

When you provide Firefly with your email address, it may send you emails necessary to respond to a request. Your email address will be used only to respond to your request and will not be shared with any third parties. Instructions for unsubscribing from receiving future emails (opting-out) are included in every email containing promotional material.

Security

It is Firefly’s intent to protect against the loss, misuse or alteration of information that it has collected from you. Firefly employs reasonable security measures to protect the security of the information you submit. When you request services or create an account on its website, your access to that account is password protected so that only you can access it. Firefly maintains the data you provide in a secure database.

Policy Changes

If Firefly makes changes to any terms or conditions of its Privacy Policy, the changes will be posted on this portion of the website so that you will always know what information is collected, how it might be used, to whom it may be disclosed and what choices you have. Please be sure to check this page each time you visit the website. Your continued use of this website following any posted changes to these terms will mean that you have accepted those changes.

Questions or Comments?

For questions, comments or assistance, you are invited to contact Firefly at its address at the beginning of this Policy or above, or by calling us toll free at (877) 963-3534.

Firefly Legal
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.